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Port State Inspections
Operations Center: (337) 491-7800
Foreign flagged vessels subject to the requirements of SOLAS and other international conventions must undergo Port State Control boardings unless specifically exempt. All vessels get boarded once a year for their annual examination. Some vessels get an additional boarding at six months known as a re-exam. Frequency of boardings is dependent on factors such as flag state, class society, owner/operator, and vessel history. If you have any questions, please refer to Port State Control program information. After reviewing this site, you may be able to get a preliminary indication as to whether or not your vessel will be boarded by clicking on the PSIX database. Also it may provide information on when the vessel was last boarded or if the vessel has any outstanding requirements. You will also be able to determine if the vessel's class, flag, or owner operator is targeted. If you have any more questions concerning the content of a Port State Control boarding, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page located at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nmc/pubs/msm/vol2.htm. USCG procedures and policy for Port State Control exams can be found in the Marine Safety Manual, Volume II, Section D.During the course of these boardings, one very important component is our ability to verify a particular vessel has valid documentation. MSU Lake Charles will accept copies of the vessels Registry, International Tonnage Certificate, and COFR. All other documents must be originals, including all SOLAS certificates and Load Line certificate. If you need information from these documents for any reason, please make copies and leave the originals on board.
Boardings of Port State vessels adhere to the criteria and process prescribed by inspection guides. These "840" books are particular to the cargo carried by Port Sate Vessels. Electronic copies of these "840" books are excellent references for vessel agents, masters and owners of vessels undergoing Port State Control exams.
If you have any questions about this policy please contact 337-491-7800.
Forms
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